Free acupressure camp opens 
Our Correspondent

Doraha, November 17
A free acupressure treatment camp organised by the Progressive Youth Federation, Doraha, was inaugurated by Mrs Raj Rani, municipal councillor, today.

The patients shall be treated free of cost at the two-day camp. According to Mr Sachin Angra and Mr Harish Kapila, president and vice-president, respectively,"We have undertaken the project with the help of the Rampur Acupressure Healthcare Centre. We have also set up an emergency blood donation unit in Doraha. Our main goal is to serve mankind which is the real service to God."

With the collaboration of Dr Daljinder Singh, Dr Randhir Singh Deol and Dr Jagtar Singh Benipal, patients shall be entertained free of cost. Dr Benipal said that naturopathy was the best cure in the present-day world as no medicines of any kind were to be inhaled. A patient was treated outwardly and where allopathy had failed naturopathy had succeeded in overcoming even the deadly diseases.

Mr Sudarshan Kumar Pappu, president, Nagar Council, Doraha, Mr Adarsh Pal Bector, former president, Mr Rajinder Singh Khalsa, sarpanch Ajmer Singh, sarpanch Gurnam Singh, Mr Gursharanjit Singh, general secretary, Punjab State Apex Body of NGOs, Mr Jatinder Sharma, principal, Shakti Public School, and Mr Dharamjit Singh Jaggi, vice-president, Rotary Club, Doraha, congratulated the Progressive Youth Federation for their efforts and appreciated their endeavor to reduce human suffering.

Dental fortnight begins
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 17
The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, is celebrating a dental fortnight in all the civil hospitals. The fortnight was inaugurated at the Civil Hospital by Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, here today.

Dr Puneet Girdhar, state secretary, Indian Dental Association, in a statement said that a huge exhibition regarding dental education and awareness was displayed in the hospital. Over 300 schoolchildren participated in the rally organised by the Dental Department. Tooth pastes, tooth brushes, pamphlets and fruits were distributed among the children. Dr Girdhar added that dental treatment, including dentures, fillings, extractions and cleansing of teeth will be done free of cost. He said that on-the-spot painting, writing and beautiful smile contests will be held during the fortnight. Teachers and parents training programme will also be part of these celebrations.

Dr K.S. Ghai, District Dental Health Officer, said that the fortnight would cover four centres in the district at Ludhiana, Samrala, Khanna and Jagraon.

GHG Khalsa trounce GTB college
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, November 17
In a one-sided affair, GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, defeated GTB National College, Dakha 11-0 in the final of the Panjab University Zonal Women’s Football Championship played at Sardara Singh Sports Complex of GHG Khalsa College. Manjit Kaur and Sukhjit Kaur scored 4 goals each, while Harkamaljot found the target twice and Baljit scored one goal.

With this title win, GHG Khalsa College have qualified for the Panjab University Inter-Zonal Women Football Championship scheduled to start from November 19 on Panjab University Campus football ground at Chandigarh. Principal Manjit Singh Khattra has congratulated college women football team on its outstanding performance. It may be mentioned here that GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sudhar established a Women Football Academy last year for the promotion of women’s football in this rural area of Punjab.

DORAHA
Hockey tourney begins: The third inter-school Divali Hockey Tournament organised by Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, began here yesterday.

The tournament was inaugurated by Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, Principal, Guru Nanak National College.

A total of 12 teams, including Punjab Public School, Rupalon (A and B); Government Senior Secondary School, Sahnewal; Govt Senior Secondary School, Doraha; Govt Senior Secondary School, Kaddon; Govt Senior Secondary School, Shahpur; Nankana Sahib Public School, Rampur; Nankana Sahib Public School, Kilaraipur; Govt High School, Ghaloti; Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha; R S Khalsa School, Jaspalon; and Malwa Khalsa School, Ludhiana, are participating in the tournament.

According to Prof R.S. Pali, organising officer, on the concluding day ie November 18, a cash prize of Rs 3100 would be awarded to the winning team and Rs 2,100 to the runners up. He further said it was an annual feature of the college and the inspiration by the President of the college, Dr Ishwar Singh, had helped them holding the tournament for the third year.

The scores of the teams on the inaugural day were: Punjab Public school, Rupalon, (A team) beat Nankana Sahib Public School, Rampur, by 3-1; Government Senior Secondary School, Doraha beat Govt Senior Secondary School, Sahnewal, by 9-0; Govt High School,Ghaloti, beat Punjab Public School, Rupalon; (B Team), by 5-1.

MC’s selective drive against encroachments
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 17
Place: The road connecting Urban Estate phases I and II with the Metro Road. Time: After 2 pm on a day when all factories and workshops etc observe a holiday to pay obeisance to Lord Vishwakarma.

Scene: A couple of holidaying masons are talking over drinks at the road intersection and a number of rehris, dot the road along the Dasehra ground side. Among these are a couple of cigarette vendors, a fruit vendor, a barber’s shop under a tree, a papaya and banana seller and so on. Suddenly there appears on the scene a municipal corporation squad with trucks and takes away a couple of rehris from near the road intersection. The squad paid no attention to the other rehris dotting the road. Why this selective punitive action?

Inquiries revealed that the rehriwallahs affected by the raid were new in the business and did not know that a system existed according to which they have to pay a monthly bribe if they wanted to stay in business. Others were not touched for the simple reason that they were regularly paying their ‘monthlies’. The raid , instead of discouraging roadside encroachments, served a purpose to the contrary. The seized rehris would be released soon by the tehbazari department officials of the local Municipal Corporation after charging appropriate fines and the usual “chai-pani” expenses. These men would learn the lesson they are required to. To pay up every month without fail if they are to stay in business . The raid served another purpose , to remind the ‘listed’ ones of the instalment that is due.

One wonders if the purpose of the tehbazari department is to remove encroachments on public land and roads going by the scale of encroachments done on the Metro Road which is the main arterial road of the Focal Point area.

According to the original master plan, which is still valid, there is no provision for shops on this wide two-way road. But residents of the HIG colony whose houses line the road have converted their residences into shops and encroached upon the road meant to be kept free for pedestrians and walkers. On account of these encroachments, the area is an ugly mass of shops and residences mixed together. Since there are no traffic lights at various road intersections, pedestrians are exposed to the dangers of the fast moving traffic on this road. Building regulations have also been violated with impunity in the area.

If tehbazari officials do not mend their ways, encroachments would only increase in the area and within a couple of years, there would be no vacant space left anywhere in the area. The monster of encroachments would eat up the whole of vacant space and roadsides slowly but surely.